Parnpree sees need to re-engage with Myanmar

Thailand believes that engagement with the new administration in Myanmar is necessary to help resolve the crisis in the country and bring it back to the “ASEAN family,” according to former foreign minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara.

He said Thailand is trying to build a bridge that would help re-integrate Myanmar with the regional grouping which has been pushing for an end to violence and widespread human rights abuses in the country but with little success.

“We need to press for positive progress. We are now in a new phase. If we are trapped in the past, confrontation between ASEAN and Myanmar will continue,” said Parnpree, who heads the advisory team of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Sihasak recently visited Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw for talks with Min Aung Hlaing, who assumed the presidency after the recent general elections.

Human rights groups have criticized the trip which they see as lending legitimacy to Min Aung Hlaing who seized power in 2021 and is held responsible for widespread human rights abuses and violence against opponents of the military regime he led.

Speaking in an interview with Thai PBS, Parnpree said Sihasak’s visit was part of his efforts to help bring peace back to Myanmar and to foster cooperation with the new administration in Naypyidaw in addressing cross-border issues between the two countries, including cross-border pollutions, transnational crimes and border trade.

“Foreign Minister Sihasak is trying to re-connect Myanmar with ASEAN with the aim of bringing the country back to the ASEAN family,” said Parnpree who represented Thailand in attending Min Aung Hlaing’s presidency inauguration in early April.

However, Parnpree stressed that there is also a need for Myanmar to demonstrate its sincerity in ending violence and human rights abuses in line with the five-point consensus adopted by ASEAN.

ASEAN has consistently restricted Myanmar's military junta from high-level meetings since following the 2021 coup.

ASEAN also has yet to recognize the result of the recent general elections in Myanmar which are dismissed by critics as a sham.

Parnpree echoed Foreign Minister Sihasak’s call for the five-point consensus to be reviewed. “If it doesn’t get us anywhere, it may need to be reviewed,” he said.

Parnpree said Thailand welcomes Myanmar’s recent amnesty for more than 4,000 prisoners and hopes to see deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi freed in the near future.

Myanmar's junta on Thursday announced that it had moved Suu Kyi prison to house arrest in Naypyidaw and had her sentence further reduced.